High Court Costs Battle
Daily Mail Publisher Demands Harry, Elton John Cover Millions in Legal Costs
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Key Points
1
The main four-year, £50m case against the Daily Mail publisher revolved around 97 articles alleged to rely on unlawfully obtained information, and the trial lasted 11 weeks before all claims were dismissed against Associated Newspapers.
2
The costs hearing is scheduled for two days, July 29 and 30, at the High Court in London, with Judge Matthew Nicklin presiding to decide who pays the publisher’s substantial costs.
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Some of the roughly £34m-plus in costs may be covered by insurance, potentially influencing the final amount claimants could be ordered to pay.
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The publisher described the conduct of the claimants and their legal team as 'outside the norm' and 'cavalier', including 'not only unfair' conduct and 'flagrant breach' of the judge’s warnings during the trial.
Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and five other celebrities face a bill potentially topping £34 million after their four-year lawsuit against the Daily Mail collapsed. A two-day costs hearing began July 29 at London's High Court, where Judge Matthew Nicklin will decide how much of Associated Newspapers' massive legal tab the claimants must cover, according to The Independent.
The group — which also includes Baroness Doreen Lawrence, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Sir Simon Hughes — sued the Mail over 97 articles they claimed relied on unlawfully obtained information. After an 11-week trial, every claim was thrown out, The Independent reported.
A £50 Million Case That Ended in Total Defeat
The claimants spent four years building a case around alleged phone hacking, blagging, and other unlawful information-gathering by the Daily Mail. The trial alone lasted 11 weeks. In July, Judge Nicklin dismissed every single allegation against Associated Newspapers, fully exonerating the publisher's journalists, according to Yahoo News.
The total cost of the legal battle has surpassed £50 million. Now the question is who pays. Associated Newspapers argues the claimants should cover most of that bill — potentially around £34 million or more, The Independent reported.
Publisher Calls Claimants' Conduct 'Cavalier' and 'Reckless'
Associated Newspapers is pushing for so-called indemnity costs — a punishment rate above the standard amount courts normally award. The publisher argues the claimants ran the case in a way that was "outside the norm" and "cavalier," according to The Independent.
The publisher also accused the claimants and their legal team of conduct that was "not only unfair" and a "flagrant breach" of the judge's own warnings during the trial. If the court agrees, the final bill for the claimants could climb even higher than the initial £34 million estimate, Yahoo News reported.
Insurance May Soften the Blow for Some Claimants
Not all of the £34 million-plus may come directly out of the celebrities' pockets. Some portion of the costs could be covered by insurance policies held by the claimants, according to The Independent. The exact coverage is unclear, and the court's ruling will shape the final amounts owed.
Harry is not expected to attend the two-day hearing in person. The focus remains squarely on the financial fallout, with Judge Nicklin expected to deliver his decision after hearing arguments on July 29 and 30, Yahoo News reported.
High-Profile Names Now Face a High-Stakes Financial Reckoning
The seven claimants represent some of Britain's most recognizable names. Elton John and his husband David Furnish joined the case alongside human rights champion Baroness Lawrence, actress Elizabeth Hurley, film producer Sadie Frost, and former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Simon Hughes, according to The Independent.
The case was one of the biggest media lawsuits in British history. Its failure — and the looming costs order — sends a stark warning to future claimants considering large-scale actions against news publishers. A ruling is expected shortly after the hearing concludes on July 30, The Independent reported.
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